Hand-conditioning apparatus

ABSTRACT

Hand conditioning apparatus for use in the regimen associated with the practice of karate employing control conditioning impacts on the hand, which toughens the hand in an improved manner while reducing the hazard of injury as compared with conventional hand conditioning routines.

United States Patent Perrine Apr. 29, 1975 [54] HAND'CONDITIONINGAPPARATUS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [76] Inventor: Walter E.Perrine, 3001 N. 55 Dr., 1,248'190 W960 France Phoenix, Ariz. 85031 [22]Filed: Oct. 29, 1973 Primary ExaminerLawrence W. Trapp [21] A l N 410786 Attorney, Agent, or FirmWarren F. B. Lindsley [57] ABSTRACT [52]U.S. Cl 128/52; 128/55 Hand condItIonmg apparatus for use In the regimen[51] lnt. Cl A61h 7/00 associated with the practice of karate p y g con7 [58] FIeld of Search 128/-6, 5] 55 no] Conditioning impacts on thehand, which toughens [56] References Cited the hand in an improvedmanner while reducing the hazard of injury as compared with conventionalhand UNITED STATES PATENTS conditioning routines. 1.750.303 3/1930Goodrich 1223/55 ux 2.l48,66l 2/1939 Thierer 128/26 UX 5 Clams, 7Drawing Flgures HAND-CONDITIONING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn the practice of karate as an art of self defense the empty hand isemployed as a weapon. and an important part of the regimen involved isthe conditioning of the hand to develop its strength and resilience.This is typically accomplished through the use of various punishingtypes of exercises such as the striking of rigid objects with the fist.the edge of the open hand or the tips of the fingers. In such exercisesthe control over the impact received by the hand is relatively limitedand the possibility of injury to the hand is a significant hazard.Therefore, the need for hand conditioning apparatus for reducing oreliminating this hazard while toughening the hand is evident.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention claimed. anovel and useful hand conditioning apparatus is provided which toughensthe hand in a controlled manner.

It is. therefore. an object of the invention to provide a novelhand-conditioning apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide a handconditioningapparatus which develops the strength and resilience of the hand oftheuser while significantly reducing the hazard of injury to the hand.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hand-conditioningapparatus in which the forces applied to the hand as well as thefrequency of their application is readily controlled.

A still further object of this invention is to provide ahand-conditioning apparatus which is more effective than conventionalexercises in the development of strength and resilience in the hand ofthe user.

A still further object of this invention is to provide such areciprocating hand-conditioning apparatus which may be actuatedautomatically or manually.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as thefollowing description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity inthe claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The present invention may be morereadily described by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a hand-conditioning apparatus showing abroken line image of the users clenched fist in position for theconditioning of his knuckles;

FIG. 2 shows a portion of the apparatus with the open hand of the userresting on the ball support in position for the application ofconditioning impacts to the tips of his fingers:

FIG. 3 shows the users clenched fist in position on the ball support atan angle allowing the application of conditioning impacts to the side ofthe hand;

FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken alongthe line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows an electro-mechanical schematic of the moving parts of theapparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a modification of the structure shown in FIGS. 1-5 wherein thehand-conditioning mechanism is actuated by a bicycle chain transmissionmechanism;

and 1 FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of the structure shown inFIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDD EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly tothe drawings by characters of reference. FIG. 1 discloses ahandconditioning apparatus 10 housed in a step-shaped structure 11. Thetop surface 11A of the lower step of structure 11 supports a ballsupport 12. The top surface 118 of the top step of structure 11 is acover for a rectangular enclosure 13 which contains electrical andmechanical components employed to drive a ram structure 14 in areciprocating fashion. The ram structure is controlled by an ON-OFFswitch 15, speed control 16 and mechanical clutch lever 17. all mountedon surface 118. Hand crank 18, shown as a broken-line image in FIG. 1.may be mounted on either side of the apparatus in crank sockets 19. 19'.Suction cups may be mounted on the four corners of the bottom of theapparatus for ease in mounting on a plane surface with cups 20A. 20B.and 20C. shown in FIG. 1. A broken line image of the users clenched fist21 is shown in position on ball support 12.

Ram structure 14 comprises a rod 23. a flat. rectangular plate 24attached at its center to the end of rod 23, and a pad assembly 25 whichis removably attached to plate 24. Pad assembly 25 comprises two parts.namely an impact pad 26 and a mounting clip 27. The impact pad 26 hasdimensions approximately equal to those of plate 24. Mounting clip 27.which is permanently attached to pad 26. comprises a plate formed ofmetal or plastic having a flat rectangular center portion of the samedimensions as pad 26 and having U-shaped ends which fit over and gripthe ends of plate 24 as shown in FIG. 1. Pad assembly 25. as described.may be readily attached to or removed from plate 24 by placing clip 27over one end of plate 24 by sliding it over one side thereof into theposition shown in FIG. 1. It is of course removed again by simplysliding it off one side. Ease ofattaching and removal of pad assembly 25is desirable to permit alternate attachment of similar assemblies havingpads of different materials. hardness or softness desired for aparticular purpose and at different stages of the conditioning regimen.

In operation. ram structure 14 moves back and forth in a reciprocatingmanner along a line colinear with the longitudinal axis of rod 23. Theimpact pad 26 is thus caused to apply repetitive impacts to the knucklesof the clenched fist 21 as it rests on ball support 12.

The reciprocating motion of ram structure 14 may be produced eithermanually or it may be motor-driven. The position of clutch lever 17, asshown in FIG. 5, energizes or deenergizes the means for driving ramstructure 14. When pulled back toward the user. in the position shown inFIG. 1, crank 18 is engaged and the user may turn the crank with hisfree hand to produce the reciprocating action. Thus. for conditioningthe left hand. crank 18 would conveniently be installed as shown in FIG.1 on the user's right-hand side of the conditioning apparatus. Forconditiong the right hand. crank 18 is installed in crank socket 19. asshown in FIG. 1, where it could be operated by the users left hand. Formotordriven operation. clutch lever 17 is moved forward away from theuser. Switch 15 provides ON-OFF control of motor power and speed control16 is rotated to adjust the motor speed which relates directly to thefrequency of the reciprocating action of ram structure 14.

The severity or force of the successive impacts applied to the usershand may be varied by adjusting the position of ball support 12 alongthe longitudinal axis of the hand conditioning apparatus 10. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, ball support 12 comprises a vertical center post 28supporting at its top end a cylindrical ball 29 and flaring out at itslower end to form a flange 30 below which is formed a threaded stud 31extending colinearly with the axis of post 28. Ball support 12 ismounted on surface 11A of structure 11 by thrusting stud 31 through slot33 in surface 11A which is parallel to the line of motion of rod 23 andwhich is vertically aligned with the axis of rod 23. When ball support12 is in position the lower surface 34 of flange 30 rests on surface 11Aand it may be moved along the length of slot 33 to adjust its proximityto pad 26. The desired position of ball support 12 is secured by meansof a nut or other tapped device which is screwed over threaded stud 31from the underside of structure 11 and tightened against the undersideof surface 11A.

FIG. 2 illustrates a users open hand 35 in an appropriate position onball support 12 for the application of bracket 41, electric motor 42,first and second V-belts 43 and 44 respectively. a rheostat 45, switch15, and terminals 47 and 48 for connection to an electric power source.not shown.

Pulleys 36. 37 and 38 are typical of the type employed with V-beltshaving annular grooves tapered so that the width of the groove becomessmaller toward the bottom of the groove. Thus. as the V-belt istightened against the annular groove it becomes more tightly wedged intothe pulley and the degree of coupling is increased. Conversely as belttension is decreased. surface contact between belt and pulley is reduceduntil belt and pulley become so loosely engaged as to provide noeffective mechanical coupling. Pulleys 36 and 38 have one annular grooveeach. while pulley 37 has two adjacent grooves, the first groove ofpulley 37 carrying V-belt 43 and the second groove of pulley 37 carryingV-Belt 44. As indicated in FIG. 5, belt 43 is also coupled to pulley 38,which is mounted on shaft 49 of motor 42. and belt 44 is coupled topulley 36, which is mounted on crank shaft 51.

Clutch bracket 41 is a U-shaped bracket having its legs pivotallysecured in rectangular enclosure 13 near their ends and which hasattached to its closed end clutch lever 17. The pivoting axis of bracket41 is parallel with the mutually parallel axes of pulleys 36, 37 and 38and ofidler 39. A pin 52 journaled between the legs of clutch bracket 41serves as an axle for idler wheel 39. ldler wheel 39 is in the form ofapulley having two annular grooves 53 and 54 with the groove 53 beingaligned with V-belt 43 and groove 54 being aligned with V-belt 44. Theassembly comprising clutch bracket 41, clutch lever 17, pin 52 and idler39 serves as a means for coupling pulley 37 either to pulley 36 formanual operation or to pulley 38 for electrical drive.

In the position of the assembly. as shown in FIG. 5, coupling betweenpulleys 37 and 38 occurs. Clutch lever 17 has been pushed forward awayfrom the user of the apparatus. In this position bracket 41 forcesgroove 53 of idler 39 against V-belt 43 to provide the tension in belt43 essential to the substantial coupling of pulley 38 to pulley 37 whileat the same time relaxing tension in V-belt 44 so that belt 44 providesessentially no coupling between pulleys 36 and 37. With belt 43 tightlycoupled to pulleys 37 and 38, mottor 42 turns pulley 38, and pulley 38by means of belt 43 turns pul ley 37. Rocker arm 40 attached at one endto rod 23 of ram structure 14 is pivotally attached by pin 56 to oneface of pulley 37 at a point slightly removed from the center ofrotation of pulley 37. The pivoting axis of rocker arm 40 is thusparallel to the axis of rotation of pulley 37. As pulley 37 is rotatedby the means described above, the horizontal component of the rotationaldisplacement of pin 56 causes rocker arm 40 to move rod 23 of ramstructure 14 back and forth in the desired reciprocating motion throughsleeve support 55. Sleeve support 55 is mounted in the vertical wall ofenclosure 13 as shown in FIG. 1.

1f clutch lever 17 is pulled back toward the user of the apparatus.idler 39 is disengaged from belt 43, decoupling motor 42 therefrom. lfclutch lever 17 is drawn still farther in the direction of the user ofthe apparatus. groove 54 of idler 39 engages belt 44, applying pressureat point 57 to belt 44 to provide effective coupling between pulleys 36and 37 so that the turning of crank 18 produces rotation of pulleys 36and 37 and the desired reciprocating action in rocker arm 40 and ramstructure 14.

With manual operation. the user has direct control of the frequency orrepetition rate of the reciprocating action. When the electric motordrive is employed. motor speed is controlled by means of rheostat 45,which is a variable resistor connected between the source of electricpower connected to terminals 47 and 48 and the motor windings. As theresistance of rheostat 45 is increased by rotating speed control 16, themotor speed is decreased. Conversely. as the resistance of rheostat 45is decreased. motor speed increased. Motor 42 is disconnected from thepower source when not in use by opening ON-OFF switch 15.

The hand-conditioning apparatus 10 is portable and may be placed on atable or other convenient support for use. To prevent the apparatus fromundesired motion while in operation as might otherwise be induced by thereaction to the reciprocating action, suction cup supports are providedat the four corners of structure 11. As shown in FIG. 4. the suction cupsupports are attached by means of screws 58 to structure 11.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the hand-conditioning apparatus may be afloor mounted structure actuated by the well known bicycle-typetransmission mechanism 151. Structure 150 comprises a frame 152supporting a bicycle-type seat 153 on a frame and an adjustablypositioned handlebar rod 155 mounted at the front end on a horizontallyarranged cross bar 156 of frame 152. The front end of cross bar 156 isfixedly attached and supported by an enclosure 157 which houses a pulleydrive arrangement 158.

The bicycle structure 150 also includes a downwardly and rearwardlyextending fork member 159 which is secured by welding to the bottom ofthe seat support bar 154 and a horizontal floor supported rectangularportion 160 of structure I50.

A sprocket crank housing 161 is mounted at the lower end of seat supportbar 154 and is adapted to receive and support in rotative relationship apedal crank 162 with its foot pedals 163 and large sprocket gear 164attached thereto in the usual manner.

Manual rotation of pedal crank 162 by foot pressure applied to pedals163 causes the large sprocket gear 164 to be rotated and by means of theusual drive chain 165 drives a smaller sprocket gear 166 attached to ashaft 167 rotatably mounted in enclosure 157. A second gear 166'attached to shaft 167 causes gear 168 attached to shaft 169 rotatablymounted in enclosure 157 at the top portion thereof to rotate by meansof drive chain 170.

Ram structure 14, shown in FIG. l-S, is pivotedly attached at one end bypin 171 to one face of gear 168 at a point slightly removed from thecenter of its rotation to cause the reciprocating action of ramstructure 14 and pad assembly 125, described for FIGS. l-S, to engagethe user's hands positioned on handlebar rod 155.

Thus, a means is provided in FIGS. 6 and 7 for conditioning both handsat one time in the manner described for the structure of FIGS. l-S whileexercising the legs and feet of the user in the usual bicycle exercisingmanner.

The hand-conditioning apparatus herein described thus provides a uniqueand highly flexible means for conditioning the hands of the user. Thefrequency of application of the conditioning impacts as well as theforce of the applied impacts are readily and effectively controlled bythe mechanism described so that the user may begin with less severeapplications and he may then gradually increase the severity of thetreatments as the condition of the hand progresses. Additionalflexibility and control is provided by the removable and interchangeableimpact pads. The hazard of injury to the hand is appreciably reduced bythe degree of control provided and by the improved facility for agradual increase in severity. The rapid impacting action provided by theapparatus hastens the conditioning effect. producing faster results thanmay be obtained by conventional hand conditioning means.

Although but two embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein without departing from thespirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for providing hand conditioning impacts on the hand of auser comprising:

a frame, f a reciprocating ram having a hand engaging surface at one endmounted on said frame, means for controlling the reciprocating movementof said ram, and means for positioning and supporting the hand of theuser in the path of movement of said ram for receiving impacts of saidram on the hand of the user, said means for positioning and supportingthe hand of the user comprises a support adjustably positioned on saidframe at one of a number of positions within the path of movement ofsaid ram. said support comprises an object around which the hand of theuser may grasp is within the path of movement of said ram. 2. Theapparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein: said means for controlling thereciprocating movement of said ram embodies a dual purpose controlcomprising a manually operable crank. an electric motor and controlmeans for selectively connecting either said crank or said motor to saidram for movement thereof. 3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein:said means for controlling the reciprocating movement of said ramcomprises a bicycle-type, pedal driven chain drive mechanism connectedto said ram for causing reciprocating movement thereof through the legmovement of the user. 4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein:said means for positioning and supporting the hand of the user comprisesa ball supported on a pedestal which is selectively positioned along theaxis of movement of said ram. 5. The apparatus for providing handconditioning impacts on the hand of a user set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said frame comprises a bicycle-type configuration including a pedaldriven chain drive mechanism fixedly mounted upright on a platform-likebase. a handlebar and bicycle seat fixedly mounted on said frame in theknown positions said reciprocating ram being mounted on said frame formovement against the handlebar, said ram having a hand engaging surfaceat one end. said pedal driven chain drive mechanism being connected tosaid ram for causing reciprocating movement thereof. said apparatusproviding the dual function of excerising the legs of a user whilesimultaneously providing controlled impacts on his hands.

1. An apparatus for providing hand conditioning impacts on the hand of auser comprising: a frame, a reciprocating ram having a hand engagingsurface at one end mounted on said frame, means for controlling thereciprocating movement of said ram, and means for positioning andsupporting the hand of the user in the path of movement of said ram forreceiving impacts of said ram on the hand of the user, said means forpositioning and supporting the hand of the user comprises a supportadjustably positioned on said frame at one of a number of positionswithin the path of movement of said ram, said support comprises anobject around which the hand of the user may grasp is within the path ofmovement of said ram.
 2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein:said means for controlling the reciprocating movement of said ramembodies a dual purpose control comprising a manually operable crank, anelectric motor and control means for selectively connecting either saidcrank or said motor to said ram for movement thereof.
 3. The apparatusset forth in claim 1 wherein: said means for controlling thereciprocating movement of said ram comprises a bicycle-type, pedaldriven chain drive mechanism connected to said ram for causingreciprocating movement thereof through the leg movement of the user. 4.The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein: said means for positioningand supporting the hand of the user comprises a ball supported on apedestal which is selectively positioned along the axis of movement ofsaid ram.
 5. The apparatus for providing hand conditioning impacts onthe hand of a user set forth in claim 1 wherein: said frame comprises abicycle-type configuration including a pedal driven chain drivemechanism fixedly mounted upright on a platform-like base, a handlebarand bicycle seat fixedly mounted on said frame in the known positions,said reciprocating ram being mounted on said frame for movement againstthe handlebar, said ram having a hand engaging surface at one end, saidpedal driven chain drive mechanism being connected to said ram forcausing reciprocating movement thereof, said apparatus providing thedual function of excerising the legs of a user while simultaneouslyproviding controlled impacts on his hands.